UK Immigration: UK Businesses Require Skilled Workers

Recently, the CBI/Pearson Education and Skills Survey 2015 was published highlighting that the growth in jobs in the UK is at a record high and real wages have also begun to rise. However, according to the survey a number of UK employers are concerned that the country’s education and skills shortcomings could potentially bring the economy down. UK businesses are particularly voicing their opinions in the skills gaps in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). 

Skills are an Increasingly Urgent Priority for UK Employers’

According to the CBI/Pearson Education and Skills Survey 2015, over half of employers are suffering or expecting soon to suffer a shortage of experienced STEM-skilled staff. CBI/Pearson gathered data from across the UK and found that 55% of businesses are not confident there will be enough people available in the future with the necessary skills to fill their high-skilled jobs. Part of the reason for this shortcoming is due to young people born in the UK failing to build their workplace skills on solid educational foundations; as many are still leaving school with poor literacy and numeracy skills: in 2014, 38.3% did not achieve a grade C or better in GCSE English and 37.6% did not reach this standard in maths.

For the above mentioned reason UK businesses look abroad to find employees who already have the skills set required to fill positions. The former head of the Confederation of British Industry, Lord Digby Jones stated:

“The United Kingdom and, indeed, south Wales particularly, does not have enough skilled people. So the immigration policy of the nation should start there. It should start with the fact we want more and better-skilled people. So regardless of the colour of their skin, regardless of the god they worship, regardless of where they come from in the world… if they’ve got a skill and a job to go to with a sponsoring employer, frankly, we should say ‘you’re welcome’.”

There is an expectation that most jobs created in the decade to 2022 will be high skilled jobs; therefore UK businesses need the right employees to fulfill these roles. Although UK businesses are planning to increase their apprenticeship programmes to get more young people in the work place they still need the rightly qualified adults to be able to train and pass knowledge on.

UK Employers’ Seeking Legal Advice

UK employers’ who are looking to recruit overseas skilled workers have to be aware of the annual cap of 20,700 under the Tier 2 visa category; which is split into monthly quotas.

As we reported last month (July 2015), both the quotas for June & July 2015 were reached within the first couple of weeks. UK businesses need to be aware that the August 2015 quota of 1,747 may also be exceeded. Therefore, causing more vacant positions and businesses left without the required skills they need to fill.

According to the Home Office’s statistics on the allocations of restricted certificates of sponsorship (CoS),  394 CoS were carried over to last month totalling 2,040 CoS’ available in July 2015. The number of visa applications submitted by UK Sponsors wanting to hire non-EU skilled workers exceeded this figure. As a result 1,943 CoS were granted but over 200 were refused; now a total of only 97 allocations have been carried over to August 2015.

If you are a UK employer and are seeking more information and legal advice on the matter our expert Immigration Solicitors can help. As noted above the figures on the number of CoS’ available are limited and if you want to employ someone immediately now is the time to start the visa application. Furthermore, if you have already made a job offer to a non-EU worker you must take into consideration that there may be a delay in them joining your company in the UK.

Successful UK Tier 2 Visa Applications

Our team of experienced and professionally qualified immigration solicitors and barristers will be able to guide you through the process of making a Tier 2 General migrant visa application step by step and limit the possibility of failure by complying with the strict letter of law.

We also undertake a great deal of appeal work before the Immigration and Asylum Tribunal and have a successful track record of successful results for our clients. We have the experience and the knowledge required to take your case forward successfully. If you have had a Tier 2 General visa refused, contact us to discuss your case so that we can provide you with a case assessment.

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